Decadent, subversive, and bristling with artistic invention, the myth-born
cinema of Jean Cocteau disturbs as much as it charms. Cocteau was the most
versatile of artists in prewar Paris. Poet, novelist, playwright, painter,
celebrity, and maker of cinema—his many talents converged in bold, dreamlike
films that continue to enthrall audiences around the world. In The Blood of
Poet, Orpheus, and Testament of Orpheus, Cocteau utilizes the Orphic myth to
explore the complex relationships between the artist and his creations,
reality and the imagination. out
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Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC

DVD Box
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Criterion Collection - Spine # 66 - Region 0 - NTSC

(aka 'The Blood of a Poet')

directed by Jean
Cocteau
France 1930

Poets . . . shed not only the red blood of their hearts but the white
blood of their souls,” proclaimed Jean Cocteau of his groundbreaking first
film—an exploration of the plight of the artist, the power of metaphor and the
relationship between art and dreams. One of cinema’s great experiments, this
first installment of the Orphic Trilogy stretches the medium to its limits in
an effort to capture the poet’s obsession with the struggle between the forces
of life and death.

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The
Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Audio

French (Dolby Digital 2.0)

Subtitles

Intertitles translated to English (see below)

Features

Release Information:Studio: Criterion / Home Vision

Aspect Ratio:Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• A collection of rare behind-the-scenes photos
• Edgardo Cozarinsky’s renowned 66-minute 1984 documentary
Cocteau: Autoportrait d’un Inconnu (Autobiography of an Unknown)
• A transcript of Cocteau’s lecture given at a 1932 screening
of Blood of a Poet, and a 1946 essay by Cocteau
• A Cocteau bibliofilmography

First the
bad - there are some damage marks, but more visible in the beginning
minutes and I'm not overjoyed with the way Criterion allowed the
translated Intertitles shown without option of total removal (a small
point I know).
The image looks quite acceptable and grain is visible with decent
contrast and brightness. Personally, I loved this dream-like film and
watch it at least twice a year - it is utterly fascinating and I thank
Criterion for releasing it on DVD. The extras are quite strong with
Cozarinsky's documentary being the piece-de-résistance of the entire
boxset. Immerse yourself in Cocteau's imaginary and playful world of
subliminal meaning and artistic depth. I consider this a must own DVD.
out
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Jean Cocteau’s 1940s update of the Orphic myth depicts Orpheus (Jean
Marais ), a famous poet scorned by the Left Bank youth, and his love for both
his wife Eurydice (Marie Déa) and the mysterious Princess (Maria Casarès).
Seeking inspiration, the poet follows the Princess from the world of the
living to the land of the deceased through Cocteau’s trademark “mirrored
portal.” As the myth unfolds, the director’s visually poetic style pulls the
audience into realms both real and imagined in this, the centerpiece to his
Orphic Trilogy.

Beautiful
transfer from Criterion. Sharp, great shadow detail with excellent
subtitles. Very minor scratches can be seen in a few spots. The weakest
DVD in terms of digital extra features but this is perhaps the most
accessible film. An essential story or art and inspiration,
suffering and stifling yet the proliferation of its existence becomes
the imperative message.
In my mind owning
this boxset is tantamount to owning a great piece of art. out
of

France 1930,
49', 60'In
his last film, legendary writer/artist/filmmaker Jean Cocteau portrays an
18th-century poet who travels through time on a quest for divine wisdom. In a
mysterious wasteland, he meets several symbolic phantoms that bring about his
death and resurrection. With an eclectic cast that includes Pablo Picasso,
Jean-Pierre Leáud, Jean Marais and Yul Brynner, Testament of Orpheus
(Le Testament de Orphée) brings full circle the journey Cocteau began in The Blood of a Poet,
an exploration of the torturous relationship between the artist and his
creations.

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The
Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Audio

French
(Dolby Digital 2.0)

Subtitles

English, None

Features

Release Information:Studio: Criterion / Home Vision

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Villa Santo Sospir, a 16mm color film by Cocteau featuring many of the
locations used in Testament of Orpheus
• A collection of Cocteau’s writings on the film
• A Cocteau bibliofilmography
• 6-page liner notes with essay inclusions

The youngest of the three films of the boxset and no doubt the best
looking as well. Very sharp with sublime contrast and grayscale. Black
levels can appear somewhat dusted at times. I wish I could put my finger
on what Cocteau had in his creative arsenal but it surely is totally
unique. What an artistic visionary. This final film harkens back to the
other two with subtlety and grace. The quality alone is more than enough
of a reason to purchase this boxset, but its historical and intrinsic
affirming value are equally as profound. Simply stated - must own.
out of